Constructs
Collective Narcissism
(de Zavala et al., 2009)
Collective narcissism describes an “ingroup identification tied to an emotional investment in an unrealistic belief about the unparalleled greatness of an ingroup” (Zavala et al., 2009). It expresses a sense of entitlement and a strong need for external recognition of the ingroup’s uniqueness and superiority.
Conspiracy Mentality
(Bruder et al., 2013; Lantian et al., 2016)
Conspiracy theories are defined as “unverified and relatively implausible allegations, claiming that significant events are the result of a secret plot carried out by a preternaturally sinister and powerful group” (Bruder et al., 2013).
Conspiratorial Thinking
A generalized tendency to adopt conspiratorial explanations for events, rather than accepting official or mainstream accounts.
Belief in Climate-change Conspiracies
Conspiracy theories claiming the scientific community’s consensus on global warming does not reflect reality and is motivated by political and/or financial reasons.
Egalitarianism
(Feldman, 1988; ANES 1983 Pilot Study)
Formal equality of all people regardless of their social status. Within neoliberal logic, egalitarianism and economic individualism are conflicted. Therefore, formal or political equality is emphasized, while resource or economic equality may be minimized.
Empathy
(Davis, 1983)
Empathy is an important component of social cognition, relating to the reactions of one individual to the observed experiences of another (Davis, 1983). Empathy consists of distinct but related facets.
Empathic Concern
Captures feelings of sympathy and concern for (unfortunate) others (Davis, 1983).
Perspective Taking
Measures the tendency to spontaneously adopt the point of view of another person in order to understand their emotions and behavior (Davis 1983).
Personal Distress
Measures self-oriented feelings of personal anxiety and unease in tense interpersonal settings, which can prevent helping others. Negatively related to social functioning.
Environmentalism
(ISSP, 2010; Loy et al., 2012)
Attitudes toward the protection of the natural environment in the context of government law initiatives, economic growth, and personal sacrifices.
Justice Sensitivity
(Baumert et al., 2013)
Justice Sensitivity is a trait variable reflecting individual concern for justice in daily life. People differ significantly in their perception of and reaction to injustice.
Victim Perspective
Own disadvantage — Perspective on an unjust situation where one sees oneself as the affected victim, predicting emotional reactions like anger toward perceived injustice.
Beneficiary Perspective
Own advantage — Perspective on an unjust situation, in which the observing person benefits from an injustice. Predicts solidarity with those disadvantaged.
Observer Perspective
Someone else’s disadvantage — Perspective on an unjust situation, in which the observer is not directly involved. Predicts solidarity with disadvantaged others.
Perpetrator Perspective
Treat someone unfairly — Perspective in which the observer has committed the injustice, raising feelings of guilt, prompting compensation or self-punishment.
Libertarianism
Libertarianism is an ideology prevalent in the US that prioritizes liberty over other values, advocating individual freedom above deference to authority, traditional norms, or equality.
Scale (22 items): A comprehensive measurement instrument for assessing the multi-faceted traits of libertarianism.
Libertarianism Identification
Measures self-identification with libertarian ideology.
Symbolic Libertarianism
Captures non-material, value-based expressions of libertarian beliefs.
Narcissism
(Morf & Rhodewalt, 2001)
A complex of personality traits involving a grandiose yet fragile sense of self and entitlement, and a preoccupation with success and demands for admiration.
National Identification
(Pehrson et al., 2009)
Identification of individuals with their respective national group. National identification can shape intergroup attitudes and behavior, and is associated with collective memory, pride, and sometimes, prejudice.
Nationalism
(Gellner, 2006) Hobsbawm, 1992)
Across disciplines, nationalism is seen as the principle that statehood and nationhood should become congruent by actualizing national unity, sovereignty, and identity.
Nativism
(Mudde, 2007) Mudde, 2019)
Nativism combines nationalism and xenophobia. It calls for states to comprise only members of the native group and considers non-native elements to be fundamentally threatening to the monocultural nation-state.
Needs / Psychological Motivations
(Hennes et al., 2012 Jost et al., 2008)
Psychological needs characterize requirements to manage uncertainty, threat, and social belonging, and to create certainty, security, and solidarity. Elevated needs can influence ideological beliefs.
Epistemic Needs
Needs to attain certainty, consistency, and meaning (Jost et al., 2008).
Existential Needs
Needs to reduce threat and distress. Fear of death and perceiving the world as dangerous are associated with authoritarianism and conservatism.
Relational Needs
Needs to manage social relationships and achieve shared reality with others.
Patriotism
(Schatz et al., 1999; Berns et al., 2001)
A major form of group attachment involving positive identification and affection for one’s country.
Blind Patriotism
Aligned with a stronger ideological perspective, advocating uncritical support for national policies and institutions regardless of content.
Constructive Patriotism
Represents affective attachment to the nation and its core values through symbols and critical loyalty, aiming for improvement.
Political Ideology
Operational Ideology
Preferences regarding specific policies, such as social and economic conservatism (Feldman & Johnston, 2014).
Symbolic Ideology
Identity-based orientation, such as liberalism vs. conservatism (left-right).
Ideological Labels
Self-categorization as conservatives, liberals, libertarians, populists, etc.
Political Sophistication
(based on Vasilopoulos, 2012)
Comprehension and knowledge regarding key political issues, actors, and institutions. Typically assessed with domains such as civics and politics knowledge.
Populism
(van Hauwaert, Schimpf, Azevedo, 2018)
Populism is viewed as an idiosyncratic construct based on a minimalist collection of coherent ideas about democracy, often centered around a people-elite dichotomy and anti-pluralist sentiment.
Anti-Pluralism
Opposition to societal pluralism, favoring homogeneity and unity.
Anti-Elitism
Belief in a divide between the virtuous people and a corrupt elite.
Anti-Expertise
Distrust in experts and scientific authority.
Manichean Worldview
Tendency to perceive politics as a cosmic struggle between good and evil.
Representative Gap
Belief that ordinary people’s interests are not represented by politicians.
Scientific Skepticism
Mistrust of scientific results perceived as conflicting with personal worldview.
Volonté Générale
Belief in the collective will of the people as sovereign.
Prejudice
Black Antagonism
(based on McConahay, 1986; Sears and Henry 2002)
Prejudices of white people against black people characterized by racial anxiety and antagonism; attributed to “antiblack affect” and linked to systemic racism.
Homo-negativity
(based on Morrison and Morrison, 2002) Morrison et al., 2005)
Negative, prejudicial affective or behavioral responses toward perceived homosexual individuals.
Xenophobia
(Puimatti & Russo, 2019; Bolaffi, 2003)
Attitudes, prejudices, and behavior that reject, exclude, and vilify persons perceived as outsiders or foreigners.
Reactionary-ism
(Parker & Barreto, 2013, 2005)
Reactionary-ism is a form of conservatism closely related to ethnocentrism, SDO, and RWA. Unlike conventional conservatives, reactionary conservatives not only resent but fear social change and endorse returning to a previous, better society.
Stealth Democracy
(Hibbing & Theiss-Morse, 2002)
Stealth democracy is a political attitude favoring government by experts with minimal need for public debate or participation, aiming for efficient policy that reflects citizen interests.
System Justification
(Kay and Jost, 2003; Jost and Thompson, 2000)
System justification theory posits that people are motivated to perceive the existing order as fair and legitimate, and thus may defend, bolster, and rationalize status-quo institutions and outcomes.
General System Justification
Motivation to defend and justify the overall social system.
Economic System Justification
Perceives economic inequalities and hierarchies as fair and legitimate.
Gender-specific System Justification
Rationalizes and legitimizes traditional gender roles as necessary or natural.
Values
(Cieciuch et al., 2014; Schwartz, 2012)
Schwartz’s model of basic human values clusters values into four higher-order types, each with sub-dimensions.
Conservation
Emphasizes conformity, security, tradition—preserving the status quo and avoiding change.
Openness to Change
Emphasizes self-direction, stimulation, and independent thought and action.
Self-Enhancement
Values achievement, power, and hedonism—seeking personal success and dominance.
Self-Transcendence
Values universalism and benevolence—concern for the welfare of others and nature.
Worldview
(Ho et al., 2003; Perry et al., 2013)
Stable, generalized beliefs about social, political, and natural environments. Worldview content can predict ideological orientation and prejudice.
Competitive Worldview
A belief system focused on competition and dominance, connected to higher prejudice.
Dangerous Worldview
Views the world as threatening and unpredictable, leading to preferences for security and order.
Zeitgeist
(van der Bles et al., 2015)
Zeitgeist is a collective, global evaluation of current and future society. It is influenced by perceived social consensus, shaping individual judgment on key societal issues such as crime, injustice, unemployment, economy, democracy, and more.
Social Discontent (Average American); Collective-level
Personal Discontent (Self); Personal-level
- Personal safety, Crime, Alcohol or drugs abuse, Indecent or antisocial behavior
- Discrimination, Immigrants, Social Injustice, Social cohesion
- Unemployment, The economy, Money shortages or budget cuts, Income inequality
- Unequal opportunities for unprivileged groups, Unequal opportunities for privileged groups
- Lack of democracy, Lack of respect, Lack of freedom
- Overregulation (i.e. red tape), Corruption and/or fraud, The government, Health care provision
- Privacy, Global warming
- Quality of the Justice System, Quality of police work, Quality of politicians’ work, Quality of journalism, Quality of education, Quality of health care
Social-Dominance Orientation
(Ho et al., 2015; Jost & Thompson, 2000)
Social dominance orientation (SDO) reflects support for group-based inequality and hierarchies, predicting generalized prejudice tendencies.
Intergroup Dominance
Support for active, even violent, maintenance of oppressive hierarchies.
Intergroup Anti-Egalitarianism
Preference for policies and ideologies that maintain group-based inequalities.